It’s a small world, isn’t it?
Disney Studio’s Pixar head John Lasseter said that he’s stepping down following “painful” discussions but most believe it was because of a story that the Hollywood Reporter was going to break about alleged sexual misconduct.
Lasseter broke his news just as the magazine was sourcing its information for final release.
This is a bombshell. Lasseter has been the Leo Buscaglia of animation for 30-plus years. Many people have seen him hug his colleagues (both male and female) — even lead group hugs of a dozen or more at film festivals, premieres, and other public events.
It’s a shame that anyone may have felt pressure or uncomfortable around him, but he does wield a lot of power and the times are changing. Let’s hope there are no more unnerving revelations about this talented filmmaker.
The most powerful man in animation just admitted he's abused his power. https://t.co/VypwQtl78H
— Matthew Belloni (@THRMattBelloni) November 21, 2017
Source: Hollywood Reporter
“It’s never easy to face your missteps, but it’s the only way to learn from them,” the executive stated.
Disney Animation head John Lasseter is taking a leave of absence from Pixar after acknowledging “painful” conversations and unspecified “missteps,” he wrote in a memo to staff on Tuesday obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
Lasseter’s statement arrived as THR was preparing a story detailing alleged misconduct by the executive at Disney/Pixar.
Lasseter is best known as one of the founders of Pixar, which began as a part of the graphics group at Lucasfilm. Along with Ed Catmull, he popularized CGI in animation with early films like Toy Story, A Bug’s Life and Monster’s Inc.
TRANSLATION: The hush money didn't work and John Lasseter believes the story will be out within 24 hours. https://t.co/FNCF1BzeWD
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) November 21, 2017
Here is the story from the Hollywood Reporter that dropped detailing sexual allegations about Lasseter:
One longtime Pixar employee says Lasseter was known for “grabbing, kissing, making comments about physical attributes.”
Rashida Jones is still credited as a writer on Toy Story 4, the next installment in the beloved franchise. But, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter, the actress and her writing partner at the time, Will McCormack, left the project early on after John Lasseter, the acclaimed head of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation, made an unwanted advance.
How many women have left jobs at Pixar, or never even bothered to apply, because of Lasseter's misconduct? Everyone points to his contributions to Disney, but in his wake what have we lost? What stories have gone untold?
— Clara Mae (@ubeempress) November 21, 2017
. @iamrashidajones left a project early because Pixar's John Lasseter made an unwanted advance. https://t.co/9ZEfN9zwfe pic.twitter.com/hsE64Dtbak
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) November 21, 2017
It’s not the hugs that are the issue. It’s what he says to them, the kisses employees learn to turn their heads away from, and the unwanted hands on legs and other parts. When there is an avoidance move called ‘The Lasseter,” you know change needs to happen. You could say ‘he comes from another generation’ but that doesn’t excuse the sexual harassment.
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